Gujarat continues to reel under intense heat, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting a further rise in temperatures by 2–3 degrees Celsius over the coming days, up to April 30.
According to the IMD report issued on Saturday, Rajkot recorded the highest maximum temperature at 43.0°C, which is 3.1 degrees above normal, while Ahmedabad reported a maximum of 41.7°C, 1 degree above the seasonal average.
“Bhuj registered a high of 41.5 degrees Celsius, marking a 2.4-degree departure from normal, while Amreli and Deesa recorded 41.1 degrees Celsius and 40.5 degrees Celsius, respectively,” said the weather department. It added that these temperatures suggest that the region is grappling with a prolonged and persistent heatwave.
The IMD expects the mercury to rise further in the next few days.
“While some cities like Baroda (Vadodara) saw a slight dip in temperature, with 39.4 degrees Celsius, coastal cities such as Surat benefited from their location, recording 35.8 degrees Celsius,” said an official of the weather department.
He added that Baroda residents experienced some relief despite scorching heat as temperatures fell slightly below 40 degrees Celsius.
He also advised residents to exercise caution due to the prolonged spell of heat.
“Humidity levels across the state showed significant variation. Coastal cities like Veraval (90 percent), Dwarka (88 percent), and Diu (84 percent) experienced high morning humidity, leading to discomfort,” said the department.